It’s Sparkle not Splutter as Christmas in Bloxwich starts with a bang!

Saturday saw the third annual Sparkle into a Bloxwich Christmas spectacular take over the village centre, and despite the dismal weather in the afternoon, this annual kick-start to the festive season still managed to sparkle instead of splutter!

The event was organised by Bloxwich Business Partnership – local businesses and organisations working with Walsall Council and the Rotary Club of Bloxwich Phoenix, churches and schools to bring together local people for yet another fantastic event for the people of Bloxwich and district.

Numerous charity and craft stalls were showcased in All Saints’ grounds.

Today’s feast of festive fun was billed to take place 11am to 4pm, with a busy and jolly-looking Italian Market and a synthetic Ice Rink open between 9am – 5pm. It was also planned to showcase Bloxwich’s local talent and history – it certainly did the latter by being centred on the grounds of the picturesque All Saints Church as well as the historic High Street this year!

Walsall Cats Protection volunteers Val Turner and Jacki Chilton do their bit for pussies in peril.National Elf Pat Till of the Sister Dora Friends of Walsall Hospice engages youngsters in Christmassy conversation.Heidi Summersby – holding a Bloxwich Lion – had been amazingly busy on her craft stall.Tasty treats were all for the taking in the Mamma Mia Italian market.

The former was undoubtedly well-represented too, by talented local school pupils and the young stars of Russon Dance Academy performing at various locations, as well as the Steel Pans Band and the Salvation Army band – though due to being unable to attend before 2pm as a result of work commitments, we were sadly only able to catch up with Steel Pans and some young ladies from the Mirus Academy, who were putting on an energetic performance in a shelter near the church and the ice rink.

The Steel Pans Band strikes up a tune as The Bloxwich Telegraph arrives!Talented pupils from the Mirus Academy, Beechdale, with Baljit Dutfield, the Academy’s Director of Creative Industries and Partnerships.

The lynchpin behind the event was as usual the remarkably energetic Nikki Rolls of Walsall Council, whose efforts on behalf of Bloxwich since re-launching the Business Parnership with local traders and groups a few years ago have been tireless.

Of course she would be the first to say how much help she has had from Bloxwich Rotary, the schools, churches, Bloxwich Library, Council colleagues and other local organisations, as well as hard-working community-minded local councillors such as Shaun and Julie Fitzpatrick, who joined Nikki’s daughter Amber and others as enthusiastic if rather damp event marshals!

Nikki told The Bloxwich Telegraph that before the rain rolled in the grounds of the church had been jam-packed with revellers looking for festive fun and bargains, not to mention the ice rink and stalls, which had been equally busy – and she estimated that around a thousand visitors had passed through All Saints’ grounds in the morning – very impressive. She hopes that the event will be even bigger and better next year – with hopefully better weather to boot!

The nature of today’s weather, however, inevitably put a bit of a dampener on activities late in the afternoon, though hardy Bloxwich folk and youngsters were still skating away right till the end.

The Bloxwich Telegraph was only able to cover part of today’s events, but I hope you’ll agree that it was well worth us turning out to witness some of the festive fun, food and foolery later on! If any of our readers have pictures of events up to 1pm that we could add to this picture feature, we’d be very grateful if you could get in touch! Please email Stuart Williams: bloxwichtelegraph@gmail.com

We will report on the winner of the Christmas shop window competition when the results are available.

For more details of what was scheduled to take place today, please see our previous report.

There is no doubt that events pulled together by Bloxwich Business Partnership have raised the profile of Bloxwich in the borough and beyond, and especially by linking groups together in co-operation have fostered a greater sense of community in Bloxwich.

Sparkle into a Bloxwich Christmas is also a great curtain-raiser for the rest of the festive season, and we can surely look forward to more local events from the churches, the Rotary and other groups. Watch this space!

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LEADER

The Bloxwich Telegraph is THE online news and heritage magazine for Bloxwich and district, and is part of Bloxwich News Network (BNN).

It has its origins in the scurrilous Victorian newssheet 'The Bloxidge Tallygraph', which first appeared online in Summer 2006; that site was succeeded in turn by the present Bloxwich Telegraph several years later.

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Local news, now matter how small, including publicity for local events, organisations, activities etc is welcomed. You are invited to send emails, press releases and photos for possible publication to: bloxwichtelegraph@gmail.com and also via Twitter and Facebook if applicable.

All the news which appears here is also published through our social media outlets, to help keep as many as possible in the loop. Our social media also relays locally relevant news links from Walsall borough and beyond.

HERITAGE

The Bloxwich Telegraph includes a number of local history and heritage articles, some of which are currently being reformatted. Historic images included therein are, unless otherwise indicated, used by kind permission of Walsall Local History Centre.

Stuart Williams
Editor & Publisher

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A Coalpool convenience store which was closed down by Walsall Council environmental health officers after they found mouse droppings and partly eaten food, including cakes, were ordered to pay £1,796.86 by Walsall Magistrates, on 22 June 2015.

Coalpool Pound Force, Coalpool Lane was issued with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice, requiring its immediate closure, following a visit by environmental health officers on Wednesday 5 November 2014.

On Wednesday 12 November 2014 the owner was allowed to reopen the business having worked closely alongside environmental health officers to address the concerns they had.

The convenience store was ordered to close its doors after mouse droppings were discovered throughout the shop, along with gnawed food. Officers identified external and internal holes in the building providing rodents access to the shop.

As a result of the conditions found in November legal proceedings were instituted against the store owner Swindr Singh Seedana. Mr Seedana pleaded guilty to all four charges and was subsequently fined £170 for each of the offences totalling £680 and also ordered to pay £1,096.86 costs, with a victim surcharge of £20.

David Elrington environmental health manager, said: “This is the third such case brought before Walsall Magistrates this year as a result of rodent infestations in food premises.

“Whilst we understand the pressures faced by businesses and will try where we can to assist them we are absolutely committed to protecting public health and will not hesitate in using the legal powers available to us to achieve this.

“Mice spread diseases such as salmonella and their faeces can contaminate food products thereby placing the public’s health at risk if they are present in an area where food is being stored and sold.”

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A new visitor’s centre at Walsall Arboretum opened its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday 23 May.

Located in the heart of the park adjacent to the Centre Green it features a cafeteria, changing rooms, classroom, a meeting room, new toilet and baby changing facilities and offices.

Councillor Khizar Hussain, portfolio holder for leisure and culture with Walsall Council, stated: “I am overjoyed at the standard with which the new visitors centre has been finished.

“This brand new and prestigious facility is a major asset for the Arboretum and as was expected adds a definite wow factor to an already valuable resource.

“Visitors will now benefit from a truly fantastic building which offers some wonderful resources.

“The abundant wild bird population, varieties of trees, insects and plants can now be enhanced further by the use of this new facility as learning opportunity to groups wanting to use the parks new centre.

“Willmott Dixon Ltd has done a wonderful job on this multi-million pound restoration project and the integration of the original building has provided a really attractive addition.”

Work on the centre green will continue over the coming weeks and will be the final phase to the new facilities external landscaping.

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This Friday, 24 April sees the annual ‘Walking the Fair’ event in Walsall.

Each year the Mayor, guests and townsfolk walk the symbolic route through the town centre and Walsall Market in recognition of the vital role that markets play in establishing enterprise in the town.

According to its organisers Walsall Civic Society, the age-old walk is steeped in history and dates back as far as 1662. It heralds the opening of annual fairs, or markets and celebrates the town’s right to trade. This right was originally granted in Walsall’s charter by King Charles I.

The Mayor of Walsall, Peter Smith will lead this year’s celebration from the town centre.

He said, “This is a vibrant and colourful event and a highlight of my Mayoral Year. It is important to value heritage events like Walking the Fair as it not only keeps the tradition alive, but provides entertainment for local people. I’m delighted to be taking part and look forward to chatting to our time honoured traders along the way.”

The opening to the walk starts at 10.30am in the square outside The Crossing at St Paul’s in Darwall Street, adjacent to the Bus Station.

Performance highlights from outside the church include a special ‘Sister Dora Dance’ from The Glorishears of Brummagem Morris dancers, and a special call to order from the Town Crier, Cyril Richardson, who will then give readings from the Ruffus Charter of 1225, the town’s oldest document.

The procession, which is expected to last an hour, will then cross The Bridge and move up Bradford Street and through the Market, where the Mayor will meet with traders who have collected gifts for his charity.

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From classic covers to a smattering of pop and funk with plenty of rock and some dance for good measure – 14 acts are already lined up to play this year’s Bands on the Beacon.

The family-friendly gig is being held over two days for the first time – Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 June from 1pm-6pm on both days.

And organisers have arranged for arts and artisan stalls on both days to add to the festival atmosphere at the borough’s highest point.

As Heritage Lottery Fund cash, which part funded the event has now run out, music lovers are being asked to pay a small charge for tickets this year.

Tickets for each day will be £4 for adults with “kids for a quid.” Under fives will be allowed in free. Details of how to get tickets will be announced shortly.

Barr Beacon Trust has pledged £5,000 to this year’s Bands on the Beacon and £2,000 has come from Dinky bassist Wayne Moseley’s company, BBR Engineering. Wayne is supporting Barr Beacon Trust to attract sponsorship for the event.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, chair of Barr Beacon Trust, said: “We’re always inundated with bands asking to play at Bands on the Beacon which just goes to show how well supported it is across the whole borough.

“We’ve got 14 acts lined up for the main stage so far and will shortly be announcing details of how up and coming artists can have the chance to play too.

“It’s a family-friendly event that appeals to all ages and all tastes so we’ve chosen bands that cover a broad spectrum of musical styles.

“It’s shaping up to be another brilliant show and we’re all counting down the days till June. We may not have the Foo Fighters but it’s a lot cheaper – and cleaner – than Glastonbury!”

Among the acts confirmed so far for the Saturday are Venkman, Mr George’s Famous Last Words (who supported Seth Lakeman at Wolverhampton Civic Hall) and and Esther Turner with Sunday 44, Hidden Skies and Liberty Lies among Sunday’s line-up.

For regular updates check out Bands on the Beacon’s facebook page, @walsallcouncil on Twitter and the council’s website www.walsall.gov.uk